Sliding bed press



um 23, m6. P, SINGISER www SLIDING BED PRES S Filed Aug. 2, 1933 A /0 I da IlI INVENTO@ .l JMW ffy/5w BY ATTORN EY5 5 sheets-sheer 1 SLIDING BED PRESS Filed Aug. 2, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

lN-VENTOR ATTORNEY5 j@ 2, E93@ Y' J. P. slNGlSER .2,045,375

1 Y SLIDING BED PRESS Filed Aug. 2, 1955 'shets-sheet 5 INyENToR Jo/m f. 50g/Jef@ BY Patented June Z3, 1936 pair stares SLIDING BED PRESS John P. Singiser, Chicago, lll., assignor to The American Laundry Machinery Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation or Ohio Application August 2, 1933, Serial No. 683,322

19 Claims.

This invention relates to presses of the sliding or receding buck type, particularly, presses used in laundry and garment pressing establishments.

There are certain advantages in a press having a relatively fixed head and a bed or buck movable substantially horizontally from a position adjacent the operator and out. of registration with the head where the lay of the work is arranged to a second position in registration with lo the head where the pressing operation takes place. This construction removes the heated head from the operator and, because of the receding movement of the buck, makes it less likely that the operators hand will be caught between l5 the buck and head when the press closes.

One of the objects of my invent-ion is to provide a press of the type described in which all of the operations are performed by fiuid pressureV actuated means.

Another object of my inventio-n is to provide improved automatic control means in which the operator actuates but one control member and thereafter the movement of the buck into registration with the head and the closing of the press occur automatically. In a similar manner, the actuation of one control member effectuates complete opening of the press.

Another object of my invention Vis to provide improved tandem control for a plurality of presses, whereby the operator at one machine may produce an operation at another machine.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a safety guard which both protects the operators hands from injury and also forms a .5 part of the fluid motor control means.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be seen in the accompanying drawings and description and the essential features of which are summarized in the claims.

.10 In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section along'the line I-I of Fig. 3, parts being broken away to show the construction, the press in this figure is in the open position; Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section and similar 45 to Fig. l, showing thepress in closed position; Fig. 3 is a front elevation with the front panel of the outer casing removed to show the mechanism; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the guard means and control lever mechanism;V Fig. 5 is an en- 50 larged section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; while Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the control mechanism of two presses connected for tandem operation.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated 55V comprises in general a stationary head and a buck supported for substantially horizontal movement into and out of registration with the head. Any suitable fluid-actuated means is provided for moving the buck from open position into registration with the head and for closing the press. 5 1n the drawings, I have show n two pistons in suitable cylinders, one piston and cylinder adapted to provide the horizontal movement of the buck and the other adapted to raise the buck against the head during the pressing operation. 10 The control mechanism comprises inlet and eX- haust valves for the uid pressure medium, one for each cylinder and piston combination. The controls governing the vertical movement of the buck are actuated by an interlock which can op- 15 crate only when the buck reaches the registering position beneath the head. The control valves for the horizontal movement of the buck are connected with a guard depending in a position before the stationary head where the guard will gif be contacted by the operators hands if they are near to or resting upon the buck asit moves under the head. Such contact with the guard operates to return the buck to its open position, thus preventing injury to the operator. The 225 presses may be operated singly, but I have provided a fluid connection between two machines whereby the initiation of the horizontal movement of the buck toward the head in one press also operates the release controls to open the other 3U press. The mechanism also includes devices for snubbing or cushioning the movement of the buck at the ends of its horizontal path, so that theV parts operate smoothly.

Hereinafter in the specification and claims the term translation when used will indicate a substantially horizontal movement of the bed or buck into and out of registration with the head, and the term reciprocation will indicate movement of the'prelssingv elements toward and from each 4() other in a generally vertical direction. The terms horizontal or horizontally will be used to indicate substantially horizontal movement.

The structure illustrated comprises a table I0 supported at theproper height above the oor on a suitable framework including one or more C- shaped members I I rigid with the table and supporting' a pressing head l2 in a substantially horizontal position spaced above the table. The head, when used for pressing fabrics may be heated in any manner known to the art. A pressing bed or buck I 3 is mounted in a carriage I4 which in turn is provided with rollers I5 adapted toj travel on rails IB which are suitably carried by the table. The rollers I5 may be grooved to 55 Y coact with a V-shaped head on the rails I6 so as to maintain a straight path of travel without side motion during the translatory movement of the buck. The buck is also mounted for vertical movement relative to the carriage, such mounting including a downwardly extending stem Il on the bed slidable in a correspondingly shaped opening in the carriage, relative rotation of the parts being prevented by dowel pin 90. The carriage is also provided with a suitable cam I8 having a notched portion IS for automatic control of the closing of the press, as hereinafter described. The table Ill may be provided with upwardly extending side plates 42, from the upper edges of which flanges 43 extend inwardly to overlie the rollers I5. This prevents the carriage leaving the rails and guards the rollers.

It will be noted that the upper arms of the substantially C-shaped frame members support the head, while the lower arms are positioned to receive the reaction when the press is closed after the buck has been moved horizontally into the open side of the C. This provides a compact and economical construction, for the arms of the C-shaped frame confine the only major force involved in the production of pressure and the heavy frame parts may thus be reduced to these comparatively small members.

For providing horizontal movement of the buck into and out of registration with the head, I have shown a translation cylinder 28 suitably mounted in trunnions 2l carried by the machine frame, the cylinder having a suitable piston 22 for actuating the piston rod 23. 'I'he connections between the rod 23 and the carriage I4 comprise a swinging arm 24 pivoted to the frame of the machine at 25, a link 25, a crank 27 which is rigid with a shaft 28 extending transversely of the frame and rotatable therein, a pair of cranks 29, also rigid on the shaft 28 and connected by suitable links, as at 3U, with the carriage I4. While the cylinder might be double acting tov provide movement of the buck both into and out of registration with the head, I have shown the mechanism arranged to move the buck toward the closing position by power, and have provided a spring 3I for returning the buck to the open position. For this purpose the spring 3l is connected at one end to a crank arm 32 which is rigid with the shaft 28, and the other end of the spring is connected by a cable 33 to a drum or shaft 34. Provision is made for adjusting the tension of the spring, as by ratchet and pawl mechanism 35, whereby more or less of the cable may be wound about the shaft 34, as desired.

For snubbing or cushioning the movement of the carriage at the opposite ends of its travel, there is shown a double acting snubber 3B mounted on the base plate of the frame and connected by suitable linkage 3l, 38 to a crank arm, 39 rigid with the shaft 28. An adjustable stop 48 may be provided on the buck carriage which is adapted to engage a boss 4I on the arm I I to limit the rearward movement ofthe buck.

Vertical reciprocation of the buck to close and open the press is accomplished by a piston having a shorter stroke and a greater area than the piston for translatory movement, so as to provide the greater power necessary for the pressing operation with economy of motive fluid. I have shown a cylinder 44 mounted beneath the table ID and provided with a suitable piston 45, which has a rod 46 adapted to extend through an opening 41 in the table to contact the stem II of the buckV when the pressing elements are in registration.

Fluid pressure applied below the piston 45 will then raise the buck in its carriage I4 and press the buck against the head. The controlling means for the fluid supply to cylinder 44 is illustrated as an inlet valve 48 and an exhaust valve 48 connected to the cylinder by a common conduit 58.

Means is provided for preventing pressure operation of the piston 45 except when the pressing elements are in registration. In ther embodiment disclosed this takes the form of a mechanical interlock between the buck carriage and the control valves for the piston. This interlock comprises a control arm I pivcted to the frame and having lateral extensions adapted to actuate the valves 43 and 49. A spring 52 serves to bias the arm in a clockwise direction, Fig. 1, but the follower 53 carried by the arm is normally depressed by the lower edge of cam IG to hold exhaust valve 49 open and inlet `valve 48 closed. When the pressing elements reach the registering position (Fig. 2), follower 53 rises in the notch I9, whereupon spring 52 actuates the arm 5I in a clockwise direction, thus reversing the position of valves 48 and 49 and closing the exhaust and admitting pressure to cylinder 44 to raise piston 45.

The control mechanism is shown arranged for either individual press operation or for operating two presses in tandem, in which latter case the operator works two presses alternately and the Vact of closing one press opens the other so that it is ready for her before she reaches it.

The arrangement for individual operation comprises in general a weighted member adapted to swing freely and to be held normally retracted and which by its movement-controls the operating valves for the translation motor. Swinging freely it causes actuation of the motor for closing, and when retracted it causes the motor to operate for opening. I take advantage of this arrangement to utilize the weighted member as a safety guard for the operator. To this end it depends before the head in such position that hands lying on the buck as it recedes must necessarily strike the guard and carry it to retracted position, thus opening the press. This guard has a detachable connection with linkage which normally holds it in retracted'position in all positions of the pressing elementsY except registration. 'I'his linkage is connected with the cam and follower parts 53, I8 already described as part of the control means for the reciprocation cylinder. An operator-operated lever serves to disconnect the guard from the linkage, permitting the guard toswing freely forwardly to a position which causes actuation of the translation motor in the pressv closing direction. When the pressing elements reach registering position the linkage is moved into latching relation with the guard, which is still in its forward position. Thereafter, operator-controlled means actuates the linkage in the opposite direction, which by its connection tothe guard moves the guard into retracted position to cause press opening operation of the translation motor, and by its connection to arm 5I actuates the control means for causing operation of the reciprocation motor in press` opening direction;

The detailed control mechanism Ihave chosen to illustrate comprises a guard 54 extending substantially the entire length of the buck. The guard shown is made up of bars 55 rigidly joined and having rigidly connected, upwardly extending arms 5t by which it is pivotally suspended from brackets 5l connected with the frame. Stop eli) members 58 on the brackets limit the forward movement of the guard. A post59fand a rod 68 connect the guard with the lever 6I which actuates the inlet valve 62 and exhaust valve 63 which, in turn, control the flow of the fluidv medium from the main supply line 54 through theconduit 65 to translation cylinder 28.`

The coupling means by which the guard is connected to the cam and follower combination 53, A bracket 66 on the guard car E8 is as follows. ries a pin 61, over which is hooked the' end of link 68. The linkage includes bell crank 69, link 10, bell crank 1l, and link 12 which is connected with Control arm 5I. The linkage is therefore adapted to move link 58 forward when the arm 5I moves in a clockwise direction.

For opening the press when the parts are in the position of Fig. 2, 1 provide means for simultaneously actuating the controls of both fluid motors in the press opening direction. To this end I have shown a release cylinder 13 having a piston rod 14 adapted to rotate release lever 15 in a munten-clockwise direction. Fluid pressure is supplied to the release cylinder through release valve 88 suitably mounted within reach of the operator, thence through conduit 8l. Check valve 82 prevents ilowof the fluid from conduit 8l beyond that point. The release lever impinges on bell crank 1I and thus, through the aforementioned linkage pulls the guard 54 to retracted position and at the same time moves control varm 5l in a counter-clockwise direction. The arm 5l thus causes valve 48 to close and valve 49 to open whereupon piston 45 falls due to the weight of the parts. The movement of the guard to retracted position causes lever 6l to close valve 62 and open valve 63 thus exhausting cylinder 28 and permitting spring 3l 'to return the buck to its outer position. A

Upon the guard is mounteda control lever in the nature of an unlatching device for unhooking the link 68 from the pin 61. This' is best seen in Figs. 4l and 5 where two such levers are shown. The lever 16 is used for the individual press operation` just described. rThis lever is pivoted on pin G1 and carries a pin 11 adapted.

to contact link 58 and raise itclear of pin 61 to permit the guard to swing to the rightv as viewed in Fig. 5. The lower surface of the Yend of link 68 is extended as at 68 so that the link will be supported in its raised position with the surface 68' resting on pin 81 until theA parts are moved to again hook the end of link 68 over the pin 61. The other lever 18 is usedvwhentwo;

presses are operated in tandem. It'carries a pin 19 for the same purpose as pin 11. r

The control mechanism for tandem operation is the same as that already described, savethat controlV lever 18 is used instead of lever 16 and release valve 88 is not used. The release lever 15 of one press is actuated fromanother press by arranging a valve to supply air to the'release cylinder 13a, of a second press through conduit 83a. at the same time that lever 6I-of the rst press is actuated in press closing direction. The

mechanism shown comprises an additional valve.` 84 adjacent valves 82 and 53'. This valve 84 is` actuated through rod 85 connected with lever' 16 and admits air from the main supply line 64 to conduit 85 which communicates through conduit 83a. and check valve 52a with therelease cylinder 13a. of the second press. 'Thus the second press is opened'at the same time the first press is closed.

In Fig'. 6 are shown in a diagrammatic manner the connections between two presses for cross tandem` operation. The parts are numbered. accord-- ingtothe description of the single pressi except: that the reference characters on the second:pressi` have the suffix a.

TheA operation of the press is as followss- 5 With the parts in the position of Fig. 1, thel operator arranges the lay of the'V work on the buck I3. She thenrpulls the control lever I6y for individual press operation (or 18 forI tandem operation) 61. AGuard 54 swings forward, pullingV rod. 60, which, through lever- 6I, closes valve 63 and'V opens valve 62. Fluid under pressure flows from main line 64, through conduit 65 to cylinder 20 moving piston 22 and piston rod 23 to theright, as seen in Fig. 1. Links 26 and 21 rotateishaft.- 28 counterclockwise., and the shaft, in= turn,y through links.` 29 and 38, moves carriage I4 andv buck I3 horizontally along rails I6 until stop 48 contacts bossjfil, such translatory movement being cushioned by snubber 36 through links' 31,V 38 and 39. If the operators hands contact guardv 56, lever 6I is reversed and the buck returns tov its outer position.

Until the buck registers beneath the head, fol- 2o lower 53 travels along the lower edge of cam-v I8. Upon reaching registering position, followerv 53 enters notch I9, control arm 5I rotates clockwise, openingV valve 48, closing valve 49 and admitting. fiuid pressure beneath piston 45. The r'od 46 contacts vstem kI1 on the buck. and closes the press. When arm 5I moved clockwise itmoved bell cranks 1I and 69 in the same direction andv movedV link 68 forward until it again hooked over pin 61.. The parts are now in the position of 35V Fig. 2.

When sufficient time has elapsedto complete the pressing operation, the operator admits'iiuid pressure to cylinder 1.3, either through valve 8D, or, in tandem operation, through valve 84a ofthe other press. RodV 14 rotates release lever 15 Vandi bell crank 1I counter-clockwise. Link 12 movesl control arm 5l counter-clockwise, closingvalve 48 and opening valve 49. Piston falls due tof the weight of the parts and the buck is lowered from 45 the head.. At the same time bell crank 'I I, thro'ug-h.A link 10, bell crank 69, link 68, pin 61, bracket 65, link 59 and rod 68, reverses the lever 6I, thusclosing valve 62,k opening valve 63, exhausting cylinder 28, and permitting spring 3| through' crank 32, shaft 28 and links 29` and 30 tor return the buck to its outer position. This horizontal. movement of the buck is again cushioned by the double-acting snubber 36.

'Ihe manner of exhausting release cylinder 13 will b e understood from an inspection of Fig. 6. It will be noted that the stem of valve 88 fitsloosely inthe valve body at 9|. This isso ar ranged that it does not prevent the building up of pressure in cylinder 13, but permits a slow 60" exhaust therefrom.

What I- claim is:

1. In pressesof the class described, the co-mbination of two presses, each having ooacting pressing elements, one of which is movable toward andVv from the other, iiuid powerrmeans for moving the.v movable element, inlet and exhaust valves for controlling the fluid supply to the power means, and each press having an actuator movable in one direction for opening the inlet and closing' 70` the exhaust valve and movable in another direc-v tion for closing the inlet and opening the ex'- haust valve, and one control member having op erative connections with both actuators for sia-V multaneously controlling movement ofi the' aci 756'? Pin 11 (or19) lifts link 68 frompin 10 tuator of vone press in one direction and movement of the actuator of the other press in the other direction.

2. In a press of the class described, the combination of astationary head, a buck movable out of registration with said head, a fluid motor adapted to move the buck into registering position, control means therefor, means for moving the buck out of registering position, a second :duid motor adapted to close the press, control means therefor, and means for actuating both control means in press opening and out of registration direction substantially simultaneously.

3. In a press of the class described,.the combination of a stationary head, a buck movable intoand out of registration with said head, a fluid motor adapted to move the buck into registering position, control means therefor, means for moving the buck out of registering position, a second iluid motor adapted to close the press,

control valves therefor, control means for said valves including mechanism adapted to cause actuation of the valves in a press closing direction when the buck is in registering position, and one operating member for effecting the movement of both control means in press opening and out oi' registration direction.

4. In a press of the class described, the combination of a stationary head, a buck movable into and out of registration with said head, a iiuid motor adapted to move the buck into registering position, control means therefor, means for moving the buck out of registering position, a second fluid motor adapted to close the press, control valves therefor, control means for said valves including mechanism adapted to cause actuation of the Valves in a press closing direction when the buck is in registering position, and coupling means between the two control means, there being a member acting on the coupling means to opterate both control means in press opening direc- 5. In a press of the class described, the combination of a stationary head, a buck movable out of registration with said head, a iluid motor adapted to move the buck into registering position, control means therefor, means for moving the buck out of registering position, a second fluid motor adapted to close the press, control means therefor, a guard member adaptedupon movement in one direction to move the rst named control means in registration-producing direction and upon movement in another direction to move the same control means in out-ofregistration-producing direction, said member being arranged to be moved in the second named direction by an operators hand lying on the buck during the movement into registration producing position.

6. In a press of the class described, the com-Y bination of a stationary head, a'buck movable out of registration with said head, a fluid motor adapted to move the buck into registering position, control means therefor, a second fluid motor adapted to close the press, control means therefor, coupling means between the two control means, said coupling means being arranged to move both control means in press opening and out-oi-registration direction, and said coupling means including a guard member adapted in one position to move the first named control means in registration-producing direction, said guard member being disconnected from the rest of the -coupling means upon initiation of movement of the first-named control. means in registrationproducing direction and being automatically reconnected with the coupling means when the buck reaches registering position.

7. In a p-ress of the class described, the combination of a stationary head, a buck movable out of registration with said head, a fluid motor adapted to move the buck into registering position, controlmeans therefor, a second fluid motor adapted to close the press, control means therefor, coupling means between the two controlV means, said coupling means being arranged to move both control means in press opening and out-of -registration direction, said coupling means including a guard member adapted in one position to move the rst named control means in registration-producing direction and in another position to move the same control means in outof-registration-producing direction, said member being arranged to be moved into the second named position by an operators hand lying on the buck during the movement into registration, said guard member being disconnected from the rest of the coupling means upon initiation of movement of the rst named control means in registration-producing direction and being automatically reconnected with the coupling means when the buck reaches registering position.

8. In a press of the class described, the combination of a stationary head, a buck movable out of registr-ation with said head, a iiuid motor adapted to move the buck into registering position, control means therefor, means for moving the buck out of registering position, a second iiuid motor adapted to close the press, control valves therefor, control means for said valves including mechanism for causing the operation of said valves in a press closing direction when the buck is in registering position, coupling means between the two control means, said coupling means being arranged to move both control means in press opening and out-of-registrationproducing direction, said coupling means including a guard member adapted upon movement in one direction to move the rst named control means in registration-producing direction and upon movement in another direction to move the same control means in out-of-registration-producing direction, saidY guard member being disconnected frorn the rest of the coupling means upon initiation of movement of the rst named control means in registration producing direction an-d being automatically reconnected with the coupling means by movement of said valve control mechanism when the buck reaches registering position.

9. In presses of the class described, the combination of two presses each having a stationary head, a buck movable out of registration with said head, a fluid motor adapted to move the buck into registering position, control means therefor, means for moving the buck out of registering position, a second fluid motor adapted to close the press, control means therefor, coupling means between the two control means, and there being a fluid pressure actuated member acting on the coupling means to operate both control means in press opening and out-of-registration direction, the iiuid pressure actuated member of one press being loperatively connected with the control means for the first named uid motor of the other press.

10. In combination, two presses each h-aving a buck member and a head member adapted to move into and out of registration with each other, power means to move one of the members to effect registration, control means for said power means, manual means for controlling the movement oi the control me-ans in registrationproducing direction and power means for actuating the control means in out-of-registrationproducing direction, there being manual means for controlling the second named power means, and the rst named manual means of one press and the second named manual means of the other press being located at a common point.

1l. In a p-ress of the class described, the combination of a frame, a stationary head carried by the frame, a carriage movable horizontally along the frame from and into registration with said head, a buck supported on the carriage for limited substantially vertical movement relative thereto, fluid motor means for moving said carriage horizontally and for moving said buck substantially vertically relative to said carriage, when said carriage is in registration beneath said head, a valve for controlling the means for moving said buck vertically, and a bar on said carriage for controlling said valve when the carriage and buck register with the head.

12. In a press of the class described, coacting pressing members, one of which is movable laterally into and out of registration with the other, power mechanism for actuating the movable member, control means for said mechanism, a guard movably mounted adjacent the path of travel of said member, and an operative connection between said guard and said control means operable by movement of said guard in the direction of the into-registration movement of the movable member to actuate said control means in cut-of-registration-producing direction.

13, In a press of the class described, the combination of a pair of coacting pressing members, one of which is movable into and out of registration with the other and movable into pressure engagement'therewith, a fluid pressure actuated motor for causing each of said movements, control means for each motor, and fluid pressure responsive means for actuating both control means in press-opening and out-of-registration direction.

14. In a press of the class described, a stationary head member, a bed movable into and out of registration therewith, fluid pressure actuated means for moving said bed, control valves therefor, and control mechanism for said valves including a uid actuated release means, a manual actuator therefor, .a linger guard` adjacent the head, an operative connection between said release means and guard, and an operative connection between said guard and valves.

15. In combination, two presses each having coacting pressing members adapted to move into and out of registration with eachother, power means for moving one of said members to eiect registration, control means for said power means, a guard adapted to actuate the control means in registration-producing direction when the guard is moved into guarding position, power means for actuating the control means in out-of-registration-producing direction, control means for the second named power means, and a single control member having operative connections for controlling the movement of the guard of one press into its guarding position and for simultaneously actuating the last named control means of the other press.

16. In a press of the class described, the combination of a pair of coacting pressing members, one of which is fixed and the other movable into and out of registration therewith and into and out of pressure engagement therewith, a fluid pressure actuated motor for moving s-aid movable member into registration, control means therefor, a movable guard depending before said fixed member and having connection adapted to actuate said contro-l means in out-of-registration-producing direction, a second fluid motor for moving saidA movable member into pressure engagement, control valves for said second motor actuab'le in into-pressure-engagement-producing direction upon movement of the movable member into registration, a release device, and an operative connection between said release device and sai-d valves for actuating the valves in out-of-pressure-engagement-producing direction.

17. In presses of the class described, the combination of two presses each having coacting relatively movable pressing members, fluid pressure actuated power means for moving one of said members, control Vvalves for said power means, and two actuators for said valves; means operable by one of said actuators for causing movement of said valves of said one press in a direction to cause a closing movement of said one press, and means operable by the other actuator of the said one press for causing movement of said valves of said one press to cause a closing movement of the said one press and for simultaneously causing movement of said valves of the other press to cause opening thereof.

V18. In -a press of the class described, coacting pressing members, one of which has translatory and reciprocatory motion with respect to the other, a motor for causing each motion, separate control means for each motor, mechanism for causing actuation of the control means for the reciprocation motor in press-closing direction after the translation motor has moved the members to registering position, and a common release member for moving both control means in press-opening and out-of-registration direction.

19. In combination, two presses each having coacting pressing elements one of which is movable toward and from the other, fiuid power means for moving the movable element of each press, inlet and outlet valves for controlling the fluid supply to each power means, each press having an actuator movable in fluid supply direction for opening the inlet and closing the outlet valve and movable in uid exhaust direction for closing the inlet and opening the outlet valve, each press having two control members selectively operable by the operator, one control member having an operative connection with the actuator of one press for moving the same in fluid supply direction, and the other control member having two operative connections, one with the actuator of one press for moving the same in uid supply direction and the other connection with the actuator of the other press for moving the same in fluid exhaust direction.

JOHN P. SINGISER. 

